The Georgian Foreign Ministry has reacted to the report behind the critical resolution adopted by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) on June 24, saying it contains “one-sided political evaluations” and “misleading narratives,” and questioning the “impartiality” of the process.
On June 24, PACE adopted a resolution titled “The Functioning of Democratic Institutions in Georgia”, based on a report by co-rapporteurs Edite Estrela (Portugal, SOC) and Sabina Ćudić (Bosnia and Herzegovina, ALDE). Among others, the resolution warned that the conditions for holding “genuinely democratic elections” do not currently exist in Georgia and pointed to the country’s “continuing breakdown of democracy.”
“The report in question is not based on an objective, fact-driven assessment. It contains biased interpretations, one-sided political evaluations, and the repetition of misleading narratives about Georgia, raising serious concerns regarding both its impartiality and the process through which it was prepared,” the Foreign Ministry said in its late-night statement on June 25.
The Ministry described it as “particularly alarming” that an international institution established to uphold human rights, democracy, and the rule of law is “increasingly being used as an instrument for political pressure.” It said “such practices undermine the credibility of the Council of Europe” and raise “legitimate concerns about the impartiality of certain bodies within the organization.”
The statement also condemned what it described as “attempts to discredit a democratically elected government in the name of democracy, to deliberately criticize lawfully functioning state institutions, and to encourage political groups that seek to disregard the public mandate obtained through elections.” According to the Ministry, “such an approach does not strengthen democracy” but instead “deepens political polarization and fuels radicalization.”
The Foreign Ministry also criticized what it called “a biased approach to the internal political and legal processes of a sovereign state,” including “political criticism of legislative decisions adopted in accordance with national interests and in full compliance with constitutional procedures.” It said calls to repeal laws “without proper legal justification or objective assessment” exceed “the boundaries of an institutional mandate and bear the hallmarks of political interference.”
The statement added that Georgian government “remains firmly committed to safeguarding the country’s sovereignty, constitutional order, and the democratic choice of the Georgian people,” arguing that “no external political pressure, disinformation campaign, or unfair assessment can justify disregarding Georgia’s national interests, state independence, or democratic legitimacy.”
Describing Georgia as “a responsible member of the Council of Europe and a steadfast advocate of its core values,” the Foreign Ministry said the country remains ready for “constructive, mutually beneficial cooperation based on respect and trust,” while expecting a “constructive and fair approach” from the CoE’s institutions.
The statement follows comments by Georgian Dream Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili, who denounced the recent critical resolutions adopted by both the European Parliament and PACE, saying they had “ultimately crossed the red lines set by the Georgian people” and “grossly violated Georgia’s sovereignty and the principles of national independence.”
The Georgian Dream parliamentary delegation to PACE has suspended its participation after the 2025 winter session, during which PACE conditionally ratified the credentials of the delegation on the understanding that new parliamentary elections would be set and “all political prisoners” released.
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